There’s been a recent and rapidly rising demand for the creation of spaces in senior living environments that encourage loved ones to spend more time—and more enjoyable time—connecting with the residents they’re visiting.
Offering amenities that foster opportunities for more and extended social interaction should be especially important to operators. For example, studies have shown that isolation in seniors is tied to diminished health, depression, and cognitive decline. Reports have also indicated that family visits are a key part of residents’ level of happiness and sense of well-being.
An awareness of these needs has led to recent moves toward attracting and accommodating multigenerational family members by providing gathering places that engender frequent and lengthier visits. In a sense, it’s an effort to capture the same feeling of being on a family vacation by creating a place where visitors can relax, get away, and connect with their loved ones.
Ideas in action
Many of today’s senior living communities are making a concerted effort to create spaces that are welcoming and beneficial to family and friends. A few of the concepts being introduced include:
- Leaving a couple of units open to be rented like hotel rooms—This enables family members to stay on-site if desired, especially when there may not be room for overnight guests otherwise. This can be especially useful in short-term or rehab facilities where recovering parents need prolonged support from their adult children for a brief, fixed amount of time.
- Offering a business center where family members can work while visiting residents—Having a designated space on-site where guests can work at a desk or access a printer makes it more convenient for them to spend additional time in the community while attending to their professional obligations.
- Creating two-bedroom independent living units that operate as a one bedroom with an attached studio—This convertible space provides family members the ability to spend a night or two while still maintaining a level of privacy and independence for both parties.
- Providing spaces to share meals together—The food options available play a significant role in the willingness of loved ones to visit frequently and stay longer. Consider creating different eating venues or “destination dining,” such as a bar and grill, a formal dining room, and a buffet—each with a unique look and feel. Diversified options mean a better chance of accommodating the varied preferences of visitors and make meals a more special experience for residents.
- Incorporating a bistro or coffee shop area—These spaces should be separate from the dining room and offer residents and guests a place to grab coffee and a sandwich together. This more casual dining option provides a nice alternative to dining room or cafeteria-style dining, particularly for mid-day meals and families with children.
- Creating a private catering room—These areas can be booked for family dinners or special occasions, but also utilized as a pub or wine bar at other times. Keeping it open for a couple of hours each evening offers a relaxed, adults-only social area for both guests and residents to enjoy.
- Devoting areas to children of varying ages—These spaces might include an outdoor playground for younger children and a more teen-oriented game or movie room with bean bags and relaxed lounge furniture, in addition to seating for residents.
- Landscaping outdoor areas and garden spaces—Sprucing up outside destinations with seating can offer an opportunity for residents and guests to experience fresh air and conversation. Add paths that lead to private areas with benches or chairs to provide more intimate outdoor spaces for families.
- Considering walkability and a connection to the local neighborhood—Ties to neighbors are important to weigh when choosing a location. Facilities located near a park, shopping center, bus line, or urban neighborhood are all important to increasing opportunities for families to get out and spend time together. This also gives residents a way to maintain their sense of independence and connection with the outside world.
The payoff
Incorporating some of these amenities will not only create a more desirable living place for residents, but also make communities highly attractive to the adult children who are often key decision makers in determining where their parents will flourish in the next phase of their lives. Ultimately, developing spaces that encourage family members to spend more time with their loved ones will benefit the community, visitors, and, most importantly, the happiness and well-being of the residents.
Jami Mohlenkamp is a principal at OZ Architecture (Denver). He can be reached at [email protected].
